Sacred Heart graduate Callan Taylor recently signed a contract to play professional basketball for Turun Riento in Finland's top division. Taylor, who graduated in May, won two Northeast Conference Tournament championships with the Pioneers in four years and was the conference player of the year last season. She is the only SHU player to finish with 1,000 points (1,822) and 1,000 rebounds (1,123), and had a school- and conference-record 52 double-doubles.

Question: How did you end up in Finland? Were there any other countries you were considering?

Taylor: "I ended up in Finland kind of by random chance. An agent contacted me that had a team here that wanted a player at my position (forward) and my agent worked along with him. The rest was history. There were other countries I was considering, but I honestly didn't care where, I just wanted to play. Spain was one that my agent had been talking with for a long time, but with their economy being the way it is, it ended up not really working out." Question: I know you only just arrived there, but it must feel great to be getting the chance to play professionally somewhere. Does it feel real or still dream-like?

Taylor: "It hasn't really set in yet. I mean, I'm getting paid to do what I love, play basketball. It definitely feels great to have gotten to this point, it has always been a huge dream/goal of mine."

Question: How are you going to adjust to a new country? Does the team offer help for foreign players?

Taylor: "I've tried to learn some Finnish, but it is one of the hardest languages there is, so that isn't working out too well. But most of the girls on the team speak pretty good English, as well as the coach, so that is nice. Other than that, I just kind of have to wing it and look at picture clues!"

Question: Can you tell me a little more about the team you are playing for? Are there a lot of Americans over there? How long will you be there?

Taylor: "Right now I am the only American on the team, there are quite a few in the Finnish league, though, and most have two or three (Americans). My team is pretty young and new. I have a seven-month contract plus playoff time, so if we make the playoffs, it will be longer than that. It all just depends."

Question: Did you have an interesting travel adventure on the way over or since you have arrived? I'm guessing if a girl from Kansas could survive driving on the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut, it can't be any worse in Finland, can it?

Taylor: "Well, my trip was a little crazy with just the fact that I had two layovers, one that was eight hours and the second was six. It took some 24-plus hours just to get here. Other than that, it has been really smooth. A lot of people walk and bike here, which I think is pretty cool."

Question: How the heck is your dad going to travel to your games now? (Taylor's dad used to drive from Kansas regularly to see his daughter play with the Pioneers, both home and away, and has even spent the night in his car to do it sometimes).

Taylor: "Ha ha. I knew this question was coming. Terry Taylor will find a way! He is already starting to plan. This is going to be the first time he cannot drive, though, so that will be new to him. He has already made jokes about moving over here for the season. I know he is kidding, yet with him and basketball, you can't take him too lightly."